Needle selecting device for knitting machines and the like



May 23, 1933. E. MILNER ET Al.

NEEDLE `SELECTING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March2s, 1951 5 sheets-sheet 1 M ATTRNEYS May 23, 1933. E. MILNER ET Ar.1,910,959

NEEDLE SELECTING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND THE LIKEi Filed March26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet `2 -Wllu A .i IH IH'I 52; Z5 NEE l I 5 /wwvklUBYm ATTORNELG May 23, 1933. E. MILNER ET AL 1,910,959

NEEDLE SELECTING DEVICE FOR KNITTING M ACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March26, 1951 5 Sheets-Shea?l 5 W y lNyzNToR amm ATOR EYS May 23, l1933. E.MILNER ET AL 1,910,959

NEEDLE SELECTING DEVICE FOR KNTTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed MarchV26, 1931 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTORS AT ORNEYS` May 23, 1933. 1 E.MILNER ET Al. 1,910,959

NEEDLE SELECTING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March26, 1931 5"SheetsSheet 5 cfg, 45. j

./ Zag M l VENTORS mdf/w "Patented May'l 23,` 1933 f EMIL MILNER ANDFRANK WALTER, or PHILADELPHIA, rmsnvmra @Y NEEDLE `sina'iorine DnvrcnnonKivirriin'i nl icniiriis `Ami Applicationtied-Marches,1931.Seriana-525,451

Our "present `invention' i relates `to"` needle selectiiig` devices `forknitting machines and the like and more particularly to tlie con`trolling `ineclianisins of suoli devices.`

"VVhile it is intended primarily that our invention be used forselecting `knitting needles `of the springltype, as distinguished fromthose of the latch type, it is hto `be`unde-isto'od that by ininoichanges Vand rear rangements in the driving` mechaiiism", `our inventionmay also be applied `for the selection ofknittingneedles of the lattertype.

Before describing our invention in detail,

it may bedesirable to briefiy point out some ogf the disadvantagesaccompanying the use of similar devices inthis particular `branch of theknitting art.

Heietofore, needle selecting devices,` other-` wise known as mainpattern wheels, were separateand individual members, only one ofwhichcould be used at a time n a particular; knitting` machine. As Y aresult, each time that it was desired to change the` pattern, it wasnecessary to'stop` the knitting `machine entirely and rdisengage thepattern wheel already in operation in said machine and replace it withthe needle selecting ineinber of.; the new ipattern. Obviously such a lproredure` consumedconsiderable time and energy Awhich"increasedtheexpense of the finished' `product manufactured by knitting machines`employing such l needle selecting members. y f

A.It is therefore the main object? of our invention toi overcome thedsadvantagesfof' `prior siniilai'fdevices by` providing'means for:automatically withdrawing a particular needleselecting member froinitsoperative lar design, andreplacingsuch memberwith another' needleselecting memberiembody ing a diiierent pattern, or design.

, Itwisianotlier object of'our inventionto jlinitting inachineiandVwithout any human intervention` whatsoever, thus lowering the `:tinalcost of theknitted products made by tlieemachinesin which thedevice may,in `acwithour invention;

)ositioii` said member embod ino' a articu-r cordance `with the"nexpensveness offabreation, ready assem bly and simple operation, areattained by the novel construction, combination l and ar- These` andother objects, such as ease-arid'` fvwm-:visum PATENT OFFICE? rangementof eleinentshereinafterdescribed u `and illustrated in the associateddrawings,

constituting a material component of this disclosure and in which .i iFig.` l Iis a top plan `view of the' preferred. embodiment. of our`invention assembled for operation; i i i i Fig. 2 is a top plan `viewof the preferred drive used with our .inventioiu` i M Fig. 3 U's` a sideelevational View of the same; r i i Fig. 4 is a front edge View thereofi Fig. 5 is al longitudinalsectional View taken online oMFig.i3;.. l i iFig.` 6 'sia fragmentary sidele'levational View of one "of the canielements used in the'` aforesaidembodineiit of our inventiom: i .Fig. 7is a rear edge View of thesame;` Fig. 8 is a slide elevational View ofthe assembled pattern Wheel shifting mechanism used in our invention; Ai y `Figi) is a top plan view of thccani ele-l ment embodied in theaforesaid pattern wheel shifting mechanism;

i Fig. l0 is` a top plan View of .1a-r pattern wheel selecting devicemade in accordance Fig. l1 `is afront elevational saine; i. i Fig. 12 isaifrag'mentary transverse sec` tional view` takenlon line 12%12 ofFigglll,

viewof the the outer cover beingpartiallyboken away` to` show theinfiel-construction; i v

"Fig,` .13 `is aside elevational view,

broken away,of the devicesliown in Figi.,

Fig. 14:A is apartial top plan, `partial trains verse sectional Iviewillustrating?the` "voted link connections associated with t epatternwheel shiftingmechanisms above te` erredto;` ifi f.

Fig.` l5` is a detail top plan View of the needle selecting members ormainvatiable patternl` wheels; and

@j Corners of the base 15.l

4-5 opposite end of which is fastened toalug ings, the numeral 10 Fig. 1generally designates a flat platform 'which maybe a perl manent partofthe knitting machine proper and secured on the platform, asv by boltsA10T, is a-substantially. L- shaped base 15, from the rear edgeofwhichrises a standard 16 Fig. 2 of square cross section, having nearthe upper end, thereof a stud 17` Fig. o. Pivoted on; said stud isalever 18 having at thev outer endrthereofuthe bent portion 19 carryinga stud20 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 21, this roller beingadapted'to Contact; with the inclined cam surface 22 .of the cam element22 ixedly attached to the side of the needle drum 23 carrying theneedles N, the drum being part of the knitting machinepropennot shownherein sinceI it is no part of the present invention. The opposite endof the lever 18 is pivotally connected by :a pintle 24 to a pawl 25extending upwardly toy engagea ratchet wheel 26 Fig. 1, having thesleeve portion 26 revolubly mounted. on a shaft 27 ixed in the upper.end of? a second standard 28y also of squarecross section, by-a lockfnut29, this second-standard rising from one of the rear .-Fixed to the"upper end of the second standard 28 by the screw 30` is an extending arm31, tothe outer end of which is fixed 011e end of. a tensionspring 32Fig. 3, the

33-formed on vthe lower rear edgev of the pawl25.- j f Mounted on theshaft.27"is ai sprocket wheel 34 Fig. 5, .this sprocket wheel being .islightly spaced from the sleeve 26 and connected thereto by apin. 34',and Iformed on the outer'face ofthe sprocket wheel `34 is asecond-ratchet wheel 35 jengaged by a pawl 36 Fig. 3 pivotally mountedonV a stud 37 ''fr carried by a supporting arm 38,. having at itslend a.collar 39 Fig. 1 by which the same is lixed on the outer free end ofthe shaftA 27 ,the same being-held in place by a pair of set Iscrews 40.vEngaged in the supporting yarrn38 justbelow the collarv39 and in a linewithzthe vshaft 27;'is-a screw 41 Fig. 4 to which is fixed one end of atension spring 42, the other .end ofwhich engages a stud 43vextendingoutwardlyfrom the pawl 36,

' so that the same is normally held inpositive engagement with thesecond ratchet Wheel 35 Projecting outwardly from the top of thestandard 16 is an arm 44 Fig. 2 having the downwardly extending portion45 acting as a stop against which the lever 18 abuts at the top of itsupward movement and adjacent the standard 16 is a third standard 46, cutaway to form the seat 47 Fig. 4 upon which" the lever 18 is normallyretained by the action` of the tensionspring 32.

Engageable in the standard 28 is a threaded stud 48 Fig. 3 on which ispivoteda lever ,49 carrying a stud 5 0 on its outer face to -whichisiixed one end of a tension spring 51, the other end being secured tothe horizontal extending portion 52 Figl of the arm 44. The spring 51normally maintains the lever 49 in its upper position against theprojection 53 lixed in the standard 46 and the lever is limited in itsdownward movement by a flat spring 54 secured to the base 15 by bolts orrivets 55.

Formed on the outer end of the lever 49, at a right angle thereto, is abar member 56 Fig. 4 tapered at one end to present the cam surfaces 56andk 56, respectively, upper and lower. The other end of the lever 49carries a stud 57 Fig. 5 to which is pivoted a plate lever 58 providedwith a substantiallycentral, elongated slot 59 adapted to accommodatethe shaft 27, the lever being positioned intermediate the sleeve 26 ofthe ratchet wheel 26 and the sprocket wheel 34:. l v

'The upper end of the lever 58 carries a studV 60 on which rotates a camroller 61 adapted to be engaged by cam links 62 Fig. 3 positioned atpredetermined intervals for a purpose later to become apparent, along anendless chain 63 trained over the sprocket wheel 34.

The needle drum 23 carries a pair of spaced threaded studs 64 Fig. 8andv Fig. 9 engaging slots 65 formed in short vertical bars 66 connectedby a yoke 67, there being a pair of spaced semitriangular members 68extending outwardly fromfthe yoke for a purpose later to be described.

One of the bars 66 is provided in one of its side edges with aA notch 69to receive the operative pointed end 70 of the stop 71, in order tomaintain the bars 66 and their associated parts in their adjustedpositions, as will later be seen.

The stop 71 is provided with horizontal, aligned slots 72 receptive ofadjustable studs 73 mounted in the needle drum 23. The stop isconstantly maintainedin contact with the edge of the adjacent bar 66 bya tension spring74, one end ofrwhich is fixed to a stud 75 carried bythe stop and the other end of which is fixed to a stud 76 in the drum23. 1 This completes the description of the prei .4.5. times and at whatintervals it isdesired to operatethe selecting mechanism to change fici`agregarse ferr-ed forniy :of drivingmechanisnif` which" it 1s4desiredto employlfor operating the needle` selecting` devices `made miaccordance Vlwithl` the `present invention, `the operation of: which maybe briefly summarized as follows:

`As the cam 22 Fig: 1 rotates-.with the drum 23, it will, duringthecourse of its rotating, engage, along its rising cani surface 22, theroller `21Wto rock .the `lever 18 which` action in turnythrough*theipawl `25: and ratchet `wheel 26, rotates the sprocket wheel dottedand` dash lines in 1. The sprocket wheeli3`4 isprevented from rotatingin the direction opposite to that in which it is driven `by the ratchetwheel 26,

p aWl 36 with the ings. Then, as the drum 23 continues to rotate, thecam surface 56. ofthe member 56 engages the nearest lower corner edge ofthe yoke 67 to raise that element and its associated parts to actuatethe needle selecting mechanism later to be described. 1

After the cam link 62 has passed the froller `61, the barmember will bereturned, by the action of the spring 51,` to its `uppermost position,indicated by dotted lines in Fig..8 of

the drawings. `With the member 56 inthis position, the next rotation ofthedrum 23 will .causethe` yoke 67 to be `engaged at the nearest uppercorner by the lower camV surfacei56` ofthe member `56, thus `loweringthe yoke and its associated `parts to agaln act'uate the selectingmechanism, as Will later be seen.

`Itis to understood Vthat there may be provided a plurality of cammembers 22l` and yokes67, depending upon the number of they pattern.

As stated ly constitutes the preferred driving mechanism to beemployed`with thevneedle` select-V ing `devices `of `our,` inventionland it isnotV absolutely essential that this exact driving mechanism be used,inasmuch as .any suitable driving mechanismadaptedto receive its motion`from` any of the usual operative f parts of the `knitting machinepropel', may

be ably substituted. p `We shall now `describe the needle selectingdevices made in accordance withthe present Y invention` and which areillustrated more in detail in Figsl and 10" to16, inclusive, ofthedrawings. Y

` In these figures,the numeral l generally designates a substantially"fiat base fixed ad# jacent the'fbase "15 on theplatform` 10,- at theabove, all of the foregoing mere-` rear edge of which, isiformed a boss`81 Fig.` 13 in which is fiXed,by means oflthe lock nut 82,` astationary vertical. shaftu83; i Formed on the rear surface offthe boss81 are channelled guides 84inwhich slides a flati supporting bar 85,provided with" a slot:

through which passes a set screw 87 carrying a washer 88 whichabuts thebar 85, the screw being anchoredin the boss 81,`soithat the bar maybeadjustedin various positions.

Secured to the upper end of the bar by a screw89, is an L-shaped block90 Fig. lk

havingchannelled guides 91, Fig.l 13, and.92 on the upper and lowersurfacelthereoh said guides being at right angles to the bar 85.

"Slidable in the guides 91- and 92 are slide bars 93 and 94, upper andlower, respective` ly, carrying at the outer ends` thereof.` collars 95and 96 inwhich are rotatable the hubs 97 and 98" oftheneedleselectingmembers or pattern wheels99 and 100, the backs of which`Contact eachother and the outer peripheries of which areprovidedfwithA1 the projections101 and 102 Fig. 11 and tle in itermediate depressions 103 and 104, eonstituting the means of selectingthe desired knitting needles, which means is more fully described inPatent No. 1,880,267', issued to Emil Milner, on 1October 4, 1932,entitled Needleselecting mechanism for vknitting machines and the like.l J

`Passing through the hubs 97 and 98 is `a `rod 105 Fig. 16 havingthecentralreducedz portion 106 and the flattened key `portions 107 and108 at the outer ends thereof, said key portions being "engageable inthe 'keyf slots 109 and 110 formed by the cutaway edges of thecontactingplates 111, 111e and 112 and `1120; which are fixed by screws113 and `114 Fig. 13 to caps `115 and 116, engageable over the hubs 97and 98 `and fastenedv set screws or any `other `similarV thereto byfastening means. i

Projecting outwardly from thel outer faces of the slide bars 93 and94are studs 119 andy to which are pivotally engagedlinks121f and 122,the opposite ends of which are 1ro#v tatably mounted on studs 123fand124,-ea`ch* i being threadedly engaged in one of the 'arms 125" and126 Fig. 14 of a pair ofrocking levers 127and"128 Fig. 11 rotatablymounted on the shaft 83, said "levers being spaced apart by `a spacer orcollar`129.

The other arms 130 and 131 of the rocking levers 127 and 128 areenlarged at their outer ends and provided `with the aligned'slots 132and133 Fig. 14 in which are adjustably carried studs 134 and 135 threadedto'receive lock nuts 136 Fig. 10. Carriedbythe-` studs 134 and 135 arelugs 138 and l139 1 to which are fixed the ends 140 of tension lessprings 142, the'opposite ends 144 ofwhich" i are fixed toa verticalsupporting rod1`146` risingfrom thel base 80.

Also formed on thebaseSOfisabearing and 128.

147 Fig. 13'in which' isA journalled one end of a shaft 148, the upperend of'ivhich is journalled in the outer free end 149`ofaV supportingarm150 having a' collar V151V formed on the inner end thereof andy which isfixed by. a vset screw` or the like to Vthe upper end of the shaft 88.

.The lower end of the shaft 148 is provided with a circumferentiallydisposed track 158 Fig. 12 liavingva plurality, herev shown as four,equi-distantly spaced stop depressions 154, formed therein, said trackbeing-engageable by a plunger 155, the outer end of which abuts anexpansion spring.

156, compressed by a thumb screw 157 threadedly engaged inthe outer endof the bearing 147.

- The shaft 148 carries, just above the bearing 147, a Wheel 158 havingthe Vsemi-triangularprojections 158,-Which are engaged-by the members 68of the yoke 67, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. Also fixed on theshaft 148 are a pair of oppositely disposed cams 160 and 161 Fig.

111, corresponding respectively to the rock-v ing levers 127 and128,'said cams engaging studs 162 and r163 Fig. 14 formed on floatinglevers 164 and 165, the ends of which are pivotally connected to theshaft 148 and studs 134 and 135. The Heating levers 164 and 165 are keptapart by means of the spacer 166Fig. 11 also carried by the shaft 148. i

` Thus, it isto be seen that when the yoke;2 46 7 is moved upwardly,

scribed, bythe'bar member 56, into the pathr bars 98 Vand94,inovenfientof the rocking levers imparts a reciprocating motion to the i.slidingbarszind because ofthe cams 160A and 161 being oppositelydisposed, thesereciprocating motions are oppositev or alternated. It is therefore to benoted that in view of the alternating reciprocating move- -ment oftheslide bars 98 and 94 first theV operative edge of theneedle selectingmeniber 99 is presented to the row of `spring 'needles meant .to beoperated, and then, as

this needle selecting member is withdrawn byythe backward movement ofthe sliding` bar 98 caused bv the ofie'ration of the aarts a .l l

heretofore described, the operative edge of the needle selectingmember100 is presented to the spring needles meant to be operated forV thisparticular desi,f ;nV 4

previously cleand that-in view kof such entirely automatic.

operation, time and energy and thus expense is minimized With theobvious advantages to the ultimate consumer of the knitted.`

articles .made *byA the knitting machines equipped with the .attachmentsof the present invention.

FVliile the foregoing is vdescriptive of the preferred embodiments ofour invention, it is tobe clearly understood that We do not wish to belimited specifically to such embodiments, as obviously minor changes inthe details of construction thereof may be made without the exercise ofthe inventive facultiesbr departing from the spirit and scope of theclaims hereto appended. 1

Havingthus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: Y 1. In a device of thecharacter described,a pair of reciprocating needle selecting members inountedback to backena single shaft and means to reciprocate said needle selectingmembersyinto and outof operative position.' Y

'pair of reciprocating needle selecting vmembers mounted back to back ona single shaft and means to alternately reciprocate said needleselecting members into and out of operative position.

In a deviceof the character described, a pair of reciprocating needleselecting niembers mounted back to back on a single shaft and means toreciprocate `said needle selecting members-into and out of operativepositions, said means comprising cam meansy and connections intermediatesaid Cam means and said reciprocating needle select-y ing members. 1

4.' Inv a device of the character described,

a pair of reciprocating needle selecting meinbers mounted back to backon a single shaft and means to alternately .reciprocate .saidreciprocating needle selecting members into;

2.. In a deviceof the character described, a-

a pair of reciprocating needle selecting members mounted back to back ona single shaft, a cam corresponding to each of said reciproeating needleselecting members and means intermediate said reciprocating needleselecting .members and said camsto transmit reciprocatingmotion from thelatter to the former.` i

7. `In a device of the character described, a pair of needleselectingmembers mounted back to baclron a single shaft, a camcorresponding to each of said needle selecting members and meansintermediate said needle selecting members and said cams to alternatelymove said needle selecting members into and out of operative positions.

`8. In a device of the character described,

`a `pair of reciprocating needle selecting and Vsaid cams.

10. In a device of the character described,v

aV pair of needle selecting members mounted back to back on a` singleshaft, a pair of oppositely disposed cams and pivoted lever connections`intermediate, said needle selecting members and said cams, whereby saidneedle selecting members are alternately reciprocated intoand out ofoperative positions. f i f 11. In a device of vthe character' described,a guide block, a pair of slide bars reciprocably mounted in said guideblock, a `needle selecting member carried by each of said slide bars, a`pair of rocking levers having one arm of each pivotally connected to itscorresponding slide bar, a pair` of oppositely disposed camscorresponding to said rockmg levers, floating levers intermediate saidcams and said rocking levers and a stud on each of said floating leversengageable by said cams, whereby rotation of said cams imparts opposite`reciprocating motions to said needle selecting members.

12. In a device of the character described, a pair of parallel slidebars, needle select- Vlng members carried by said slide bars, the

backs of said needle selecting members being in contact .with each otherand having enlarged central apertures, a rod having a reduced centraldiameter passing through i y the apertures of said needle selectingmembers and means to` reciprocate 'said slide bars, whereby said needleselecting members are alternately moved into and out of operativepositions.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specificationthis 2nd day of February, 1931.

` EMIL MILNER.

FRANK WALTER.

